Mary "Karen" Arnel

Mary Karen Arnel (“Karen”), 88, of Augusta, KS, passed away Thursday, August 21, 2025 at home surrounded by family. A family graveside service will be held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at Maple Grove Cemetery, 1000 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS.

Karen was born in Wichita, Kansas on July 6, 1937, to the late Mary Ellen (Sidey) Sampson and Otis Cummins. Many of her early years were spent growing up in Russell, Kansas, but she and her mother then moved to Wichita following her father’s untimely death.

Karen graduated from Wichita East High School and later that year married a returning Army anti-aircraft gunner, James E. Arnel (“Jim”). The two first met several years earlier in Russell when Karen, then an usherette at the local movie theater, ejected Jim and a buddy for being too loud in the theater. They were there for each other following the losses of Karen’s father and Jim’s younger brother in the early 1950’s, wrote daily letters to one another during Jim’s service Army, were inseparable thereafter. 

Karen’s early career included administrative and secretarial work. After taking a break for her children, Kevin and Kevette, Karen went back to work for IBM and retired as an Advisory Account Systems Engineer. She loved the people, the evolution of technology, and being a lifelong learner. Karen enjoyed reading and taking classes on a variety of subjects, including taking on-line classes at Wichita State University as recently as last year.

Karen was a member and past officer of the Daughters of the American Revolution (“DAR”) and enjoyed the retiree groups to which she and Jim belong. She also enjoyed music, especially when attending her grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s performances.

Karen and Jim were avid bridge players and genealogists. They also enjoyed traveling and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last June.

Karen loved her grandchildren and was very involved in their lives from the beginning. The addition of great grandchildren was another blessing to her and she always looked forward to seeing them.

Karen is survived by her husband Jim; son, Kevin Arnel and wife Roxanne of Augusta, KS; daughter, Kevette Lester and husband Jerry of Winfield, KS; grandchildren, Jamie Arnel (Tiffany) of Derby, KS, and Weston Arnel (Isabella) of Wichita, KS; and 5 great grandsons.

Memorial donations may be made to the Augusta Senior Center, 640 Osage Augusta, KS 67010.